Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Arrested on DUI Charge

L O S  A N G E L E S, July 19 -- Basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of marijuana, according to police.

The former Los Angeles Lakers star — and the NBA’s all-time career scoring leader — was arrested about 7 p.m. at a San Fernando Valley intersection about 30 miles northwest of downtown.

He was booked on the misdemeanor charge and released on his own recognizance, policespokesman Eduardo Funes said.  

Funes said the basketball great was pulled over for speeding, then arrested when the officer citing him smelled marijuana from the open window. Funes said Abdul-Jabbar also failed to pass a sobriety test.

Gentle Giant

“Mr. Abdul-Jabbar was very respectful of the officers whoarrested him and very cooperative,” Funes said.

Drug test results are pending, Funes said, adding he didn’t knowwhat caused police to detain Abdul-Jabbar.

Tuesday marked the second time in two years Abdul-Jabbar has run into trouble with the law over marijuana. He paid a fine in the spring of 1998 after surrendering a small amount to officers at an airport in Toronto.

Helps Control His Nausea

The basketball great has said in the past that he uses the drug to alleviate migraine headaches, which have bothered him for years. “I use it to control the nausea which comes with the headaches,” he said at a book signing earlier this year.

Abdul-Jabbar, who was an assistant coach with the Los AngelesClippers this past season, has 38,387 points in the regular season and 44,149 total, including theplayoffs.

He played in 19 All-Star games and won six MVP awards.

He played on six championship teams during his 20-year NBAcareer, including one with the Milwaukee Bucks and five with theLos Angeles Lakers. He also played for UCLA.

ABCNEWS’ NewsOne in Los Angeles and The Associated Press contributed to this report.